My Story

 

 

            My name is Benjamin, but I very much prefer Ben. I grew up in a small town on the outskirts of Victoria, British Columbia. I spent my childhood racing motocross, riding bikes, and obsessing over anything with an engine. I graduated high school in 2006 and planned to start nursing school. After a serious crash on my bike, I spent six weeks in the Victoria General Hospital. The experience left me feeling a little uncomfortable in a healthcare setting, so I pursued a career as a commercial transport mechanic. The economic downturn changed my plans in my second year of apprenticeship in late 2009.

 

            I began my career at K-Bro Linen Systems in 2010. I worked hard with drive and dedication and fostered tight-knit relationships with my co-workers. As a result, I rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a lead hand, then a customer service representative, and then a production supervisor. I met an ironer attendant in 2015 who later became my wife. In 2017, I was offered a position at another laundry plant within the company, so my wife and I packed up and headed off to Toronto. I took over as production manager later in 2017. My wife and I adjusted quickly to our new environment and took regular trips to Niagara Falls and Montreal. In early 2019, I took my last job for K-Bro Linen Systems, and I became operations manager.

 

            My son was born on March 21, 2019, and it is amazing what a child can do for your life. For me, the biggest realization was that all I did was work. My son was sleeping when I left for work, and when I got home, I wasted time with him answering emails and phone calls. A change was needed, and after a little soul-searching and a lot of research, I began my academic upgrading for the nursing baccalaureate program in late 2020. We moved back to Victoria, but I could not secure a seat. So I packed up, kissed my family goodbye, and came up to Prince George to chase my degree!